Shelters and rescue groups transport adoptable dogs and puppies across the country every day in hopes of saving more lives. Sadly, in the case of four adult dogs and 12 puppies, what should have been a happy ending in new homes has become a nightmare.

Earlier this month, the dogs and puppies had been gathered from various locations in the Midwest and placed together in a truck for travel to Massachusetts for adoption. Tragically, the rescuers did not follow interstate animal protocol. Per the Department of Agriculture, all dogs and cats for sale or adoption must be isolated for a minimum 48 hours then examined and pronounced healthy by a licensed veterinarian before transportation.

This oversight resulted in the spread of the highly contagious parvovirus, the suffering and death of four puppies, and an enormous burden on the staff and financial resources of MSPCA-Boston.

The shelter continues to care for the survivors, who remain in quarantine. Costs have already exceeded thousands of dollars. If you would like to donate or serve as a foster parent, please go to MSPCA.

You can also help by adopting a pet in your own community, so animals no longer have to be transported great distances in order to find homes. Please contact your local shelter or rescue group through Petfinder to find out how you can help.

Julia Kamysz Lane, owner of Spot On K9 Sports and contributing editor at The Bark, is the author of multiple New Orleans travel guides, including Frommer’sNew Orleans Day by Day (3rd Edition). Her work has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Poets and Writers and Publishers Weekly.